15 hikers feared missing after flash flooding strikes Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Canyon
Severe flash flooding hit the remote Phantom Ranch area at the bottom of the Grand Canyon on Saturday, leaving approximately 15 people unaccounted for while 62 others were airlifted to safety.
What happened
Flash flooding swept through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area at approximately 14:30 local time on Saturday. The National Park Service initially reported more than 20 people missing or unaccounted for, later revising the figure to approximately 15. Sixty-two people have been airlifted from the area, with more evacuations expected. One evacuee, Nikki Baggs, described the sudden onset of the flood on a clear day, noting that rangers coordinated a swift evacuation to higher ground where people waited for hours before being airlifted out around 21:30 local time. The flooding caused significant damage including destruction of bridges, and the NPS closed trails in the affected area.
Context
Phantom Ranch is a remote lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon accessible only by foot or mule, making rescue and evacuation operations complex and time-sensitive. The Bright Angel trail is the Grand Canyon's most popular hike, and the area receives approximately five million visitors annually, making flash flood events a significant safety concern for park operations. The NPS has warned that additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast for Sunday and Monday, creating risk of further flooding, debris flows, and rockfall that could complicate ongoing search and evacuation efforts.
What's disputed
The exact number of missing persons was initially reported as more than 20 and subsequently revised downward to approximately 15; the NPS has not publicly clarified whether this revision reflects new information or a change in accounting methodology.